Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis

06/10/2026

Dive into summer with us! You’re officially invited to our annual In-Appropriate Pool Party on Sunday, July 12, from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Hosted by the wonderful Andy Arnold, this year’s splash features delicious bites, refreshing drinks, and a poolside art auction—all set against a gorgeous pool at a stunning private residence in the heart of the Central West End.
Support the festival and secure your spot today! Tickets: $175 | Click the link in our bio to purchase.

06/09/2026

06/09/2026

This year, TWStL is excited to bring Appropriate to our festival main stage!
We’re calling this season "The Tennessee Effect” - a celebration of the profound ways Tennessee Williams has influenced generations of contemporary playwrights.
Directed by Benny Sato Ambush, Appropriate runs from September 17–27. Don't miss out!
Tickets and complete festival details at the link in our bio.
Source: Jessie Thompson The Standard (May 25, 2017)

06/07/2026

Opening Night is officially here!
We want to send a massive congratulations to Opera Theatre of St. Louis on tonight’s opening of A Streetcar Named Desire!
As one of our absolute favorite Tennessee Williams masterpieces, we couldn't be more thrilled to see Blanche, Stanley, and Stella’s raw, gripping story brought to life on the operatic stage. Combined with André Previn’s incredible, jazz-infused score, this production is bound to be unforgettable.
This stunning show is a new co-production between Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Boston Lyric Opera.
For all our fellow Williams fans out there, this is a strict do-not-miss event for the season. Grab your tickets before they're gone!
Get tickets here: opera-stl.org
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

06/05/2026

This year, TWStL is excited to bring Appropriate to our festival main stage. Why are we producing a modern play that just won three Tony Awards in 2023?
Because Tennessee Williams is still alive — just not where you'd expect him.
We call this the Tennessee Effect. It's the way Williams rewired American drama so completely that his fingerprints are on plays written decades after his death. The decaying family home. The secret that everyone knows but no one will say out loud. The violence of memory. The South as a place that eats its own past.
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins built Appropriate from that same blueprint — except now the skeletons in the attic are literal, the silence has a racial history behind it, and no one in the family has the language Williams' characters had to even begin telling the truth.
Producing Williams is easy for us. Producing what Williams made possible — that feels like the more important work right now.
Appropriate, directed by Benny Sato Ambush, runs September 17-27. Tickets and complete festival link in bio.

06/05/2026

The Broadway debuts of The Fantasticks, directed by Christopher Gattelli; Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Gloria; and more have been announced as part of Second Stage Theater's upcoming season. See the full list of the theatre company's Broadway and Off-Broadway lineup at the link in our comments.

06/04/2026

We are absolutely thrilled to introduce the visionary director guiding our main stage production of Appropriate for the 2026 Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis - the Tennessee Effect: the esteemed Benny Sato Ambush!
An award-winning director, producer, educator, and consultant, Benny brings decades of profound artistic leadership and national prestige to this powerful production. His incredible vision is bringing Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ gripping, razor-sharp drama to life on our main stage in a way you won't want to miss.
Join us in giving Benny a warm St. Louis welcome!bennysatoambush.com

Photo credit: Barbara Banks

Tickets are moving fast—secure your seats today to witness this incredible production:https://www.twstl.org/
September 17-27 Catherine Berges Theatre

06/01/2026

The secret is out, and the stage is set.
Tickets are OFFICIALLY ON SALE for Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ gripping, darkly comic masterpiece, Appropriate, the crown jewel of this year’s Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis Main Stage!
This season, we are diving deep into The Tennessee Effect, exploring the massive, undeniable shadow Williams casts over modern culture. By pairing his timeless spirit with the brilliant contemporary voices he inspired, we’re looking at family, secrets, and legacy through a whole new lens.
You won’t want to miss how Appropriate echoes the ghosts of American drama in the most electrifying way possible. Link for tickets and information here: https://www.twstl.org/tickets

05/14/2026

What an unforgettable evening! To kick off our "Tennessee in Taormina" tour, Carrie Houk and friends of the festival gathered for a magical welcome reception at the historic Villa Mabel.
As the sun dipped below the Ionian Sea, we raised a glass in the very gardens where Tennessee Williams once sat, breathed the jasmine-scented air, and found the inspiration that fueled his legendary work. To be in this sanctuary—surrounded by the same "liberal and sensual" beauty that drew Tennessee here decade after decade—felt like stepping directly into one of his letters.

There is a specific kind of stillness here that explains why Tennessee loved Taormina so dearly. It’s more than just a place; it’s a feeling of creative liberation.
Cheers to the journey ahead! Stay tuned as we continue to follow the path of the world’s greatest playwright.